If Windows Support Software isn't installed after you run Boot Camp Assistant

Learn what to do if the installer that delivers Windows Support Software doesn't launch automatically after you run Boot Camp Assistant.

After you run Boot Camp Assistant, your Mac starts up in Windows and launches an installer for Windows Support Software. This software delivers drivers to help your Mac run Windows.

In some cases, Boot Camp Assistant doesn't launch the installer automatically. If you see these symptoms when you use Windows, it might indicate that Windows Support Software wasn't installed successfully:

An error message says that Apple Software Update has stopped working.

One or more screen resolutions are missing or unavailable for your display in Windows.

You can't adjust the brightness of your built-in display in Windows.

Your Apple mouse, trackpad, or keyboard isn't working in Windows. (Note that Force Touch isn't designed to work in Windows.)

You don't hear audio from the built-in speakers of your Mac in Windows.

The built-in microphone or camera of your Mac isn't recognized in Windows.

To fix these issues, you can install the Windows Support Software manually.

Install Windows Support Software manually

If you experience the symptoms listed above — or if you know that Windows Support Software did not install through Boot Camp Assistant — you can run the installer with these steps.

Because Windows drivers haven't been installed at this point, you might find that a USB mouse makes navigation easier.

Go to the OSXRESERVED partition, which is usually the D:\ drive.

Open the BootCamp folder in the OSXRESERVED partition and run the Setup file. Make sure that you run Setup from within the BootCamp folder, and not from any other location.

Follow the onscreen prompts to finish installation of Windows Support Software for Boot Camp.

If you prefer, you can type D:\BootCamp\setup.exe in the command line to run the installer.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Risks are inherent in the use of the Internet. Contact the vendor for additional information. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.